Benefits Of Walking
We walk every day, but most of us don’t always consider that ‘proper exercise’ as if you need to sweat and suffer after motivating yourself to hit the gym only to come home wheezing and disoriented to feel you’ve done anything. Walking is so underrated that many people who claim they want to lose weight and get in shape don’t even consider it, but those in the know, those who’ve tried it, relied on it, and seen results realize the benefits of walking every day.
Considering you do at least some walking every day, it’s an easy way to get into shape without sweating through several layers of clothes and hammering your knees and ankles. More than that, it’s a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
If you want to live a more active life, then lace up your shoes, it’s time to stretch your legs as we take a walk down Changing Your Life Street. Don’t worry, the only incline is the improvement you’ll see in your fitness.
So what can walking do for you? Well, here’s a quick list to give you the lowdown that walking…
1. Gets You Outside
It seems an obvious point, but unless you plan on taking a brisk stroll around your house, walking allows you to get out the house, even if it’s just for half an hour. This change of scenery is perfect for helping you feel refreshed, whether you spend all day in a stuffy office, or if you work from home.
If you finish your first walk wondering why you’ve never done this before, you can invest in a pair of walking shoes for men to tackle paths and trails all over the country.
2. Strengthens Bones And Muscles
It’s no secret that the older you get the weaker your bones and muscles become. Instead of accepting this as a sad fact of life and inevitability of growing old, walking is a way to maintain your strength through low impact exercise.
Unlike walking, there is not as much pressure on your hips, knees, and feet, and the more you walk, the stronger these areas will becomes, minimizing the risk of injury as you grow older.
3. Contributes To Weight Loss
Even though it’s not as intense as running or similar cardio exercises, you can still lose weight by consistent walking. If you complete 30 minutes of regular walking every day, you can improve your metabolism and build lean muscle for better fitness.
4. Regulates Blood Pressure
If you suffer from high blood pressure (and if you’ve got kids or work a high-stress job, this is a given), walking can do a lot to lower it. Studies have shown than as little as 10,000 steps a day for 3 months can be enough to sufficiently lower your blood pressure while increasing stamina at the same time.
5. Makes You Look And Feel Youthful
The ravages of time wait for nobody, but you can stave them off for just a little while by walking. Much like other types of exercise, walking can extend your life by up to 7 years, which will have you looking fresh-faced and cherub-like much longer than your lazy friends.
Of course, if you’re youthful already, it keeps you looking and feeling like that for longer, which is always a bonus.
6. Reduces The Risk Of Disease
No one likes disease, but often we feel helpless to it striking, especially in old age. Those who like to walk, however, will reduce their risk of contracting diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and even dementia. An active lifestyle is great for your physical and mental capacity, so take advantage while you can.
7. Improves Digestion
We know the last thing you want to do after a big gluttonous meal is to go for a walk, but doing this will help encourage better digestion than if you were laying on your bed cursing that sixth and then seventh helping of dessert you were told you didn’t need.
Consider this ‘walking off the meal’ and after, you’ll feel better than you ever have after a large meal before. Doing this also helps you lose weight and support your digestive system to prevent gastrointestinal issues.
8. Is A Different Way To Unwind
If you’ve watched everyone on Netflix, Prime, Hulu, and have even gone through your entire DVD, VHS, and Betamax collection, taking a walk after work might be the freshening up your daily routine needs. This gives you a chance to unwind after a hellacious day at work and cast off stressful thoughts and all that other bad juju you don’t have time for.
9. Cheers Your Sad, Sorry Self Up
You’ll also feel better, happier, and more productive after a walk, even if it’s not a very long one. While it won’t be a cure-all for feeling deep down in the dumps, it can offer you a brief respite from negative feelings and help steer you towards a more positive attitude.
The very act of moving is enough to promote serotonin firing off in the brain, and even though you might not feel like walking, you’ll thank yourself once you get back home.
10. Gives You Something To Do
Because seriously, as much as you may love doing absolutely nothing in the evenings, there’s only so much nothing you can do before you feel like tearing your – or somebody else’s – hair out. Taking a walk is free, it’s easy, and it allows you to explore your surroundings. You never know, you might just discover something you never knew about.
If you don’t want to go it alone, you can take a walk down to the store and get a pair of walking shoes for women for that special someone who’s been telling you this is what you should do for years now. Oh, how she despairs.
A Walk On The (Not So) Wild Side
You’ve been doing this whole walking thing long enough now, we’ll assume you know just how it goes, and with all your newfound knowledge of how walking can transform your life. Even if you only take a stroll around the neighborhood for a half an hour every day, you’ll soon see the difference. Not just in body, but in mind and mood, too.
Sources:
- Top 20 Health Benefits of Walking – StyleCraze
- 9 Amazing Benefits of Walking – Runtastic